Document aJR2xdkDoEpbYYxYxj74YaqRa

November 13, 1984 MIDWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE 425 Volker Boulevarc Kansas City. Missouri 6411C Telephone (816) 753-760C Dr. John Craddock Monsanto Company 800 North Lindbergh Boulevard St. Louis, MO 63166 Dear John: As we discussed on the telephone recently, MRI has strong experience in the investigation of the combustion or pyrolysis of organic mate rials. 1 have included several reprints and brochures which highlight this experience. One of these enclosures is the paper submitted to Chemosphere, which describes the preliminary results of our investiga tions into the products formed from PCB-containing and other dielec tric fluids under fire conditions. I will send you a copy of the more detailed EPA report when it is published in December. With regard to our discussion about further investigations of the prod ucts from certain dielectric fluids, I believe that MRI has the best combustion facility and the broadest capabilities available. My gen eral approach to an investigation for Monsanto would follow the general design used in our EPA study. The conditions would first be optimized using model compounds. This would ideally involve a known, unambiguous reaction from the starting material (e.g., a trichlorobenzene isomer) to a target product (e.g., a PCDD). Using a factorial design and sta tistical analysis of the data, the optimum conversion conditions would be found. Using the optimum conditions, various real samples (e.g., technical products, field samples, used oils, etc.) would be combusted. The combustion products would be identified, quantitated, and the con version efficiency calculated. Alternatively, conversion efficiency under other (i.e., nonoptimum) conditions could be measured. If it is important to Monsanto, MRI could also investigate other issues, such as the effect of additives or contaminants. Needless to say, the study would be designed to meet Monsanto's data objectives. We are most enthusiastic about the possibility of continuing our work in this important area and look forward to further discussions. As you know, you are invited to visit MRI at any time and see our facilities. I look forward to seeing you at the EPRI meeting in December and also to discussing this matter further. Sincerely, Mitchell D. Erickson Principal Chemist MDE/sp Enclosures cc: J. Going NE V 03094*0